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In this Issue of C.O. Local BUZZ…

🤔Local Trivia Wednesdays

🌄Bend, OR Weather

📅 Lots and LOTS of Events

🤠 Hat Bar! December 12th 5pm - 7pm @Click Boutique

🛍️ 3rd Annual Central Oregon Bazaar December 15th 9am-3pm

🎶💃Silvertone Devils @ The Wildwood December 12th 6pm - 9pm

🎉New Event Calendar! Central Oregon Local Live!

📅Save The Date Section

❄️🚶‍♀️‍➡️Snowshoe with a ranger in the Ochoco National Forest - December 21st

📰Local News - What’s a Happening?

🩰Bend’s biggest stage is gone: How 'The Nutcracker', others are adapting 🎦

📰National Medal of Honor Highway bill, spearheaded by Bend veteran, passes Congress

🚫Powell Butte drug and alcohol rehab facility scrapped after community pushback

🏂 SnoPlanks’ First Student-Led Snowboards Hit Market

📰Regional / National News

📰Albertsons sues Kroger as $24.6 billion grocery merger collapses

🚧 Road Closures & Construction

🔥⛑️Fire & Rescue News

🚨Crime News

📰Gun Recovered Following Attempted Armed Carjacking in Bend

📰Death off East Antler Avenue in Redmond investigated as homicide 🎦

📰 Community News

🪀🧸Toys For Tots Drop off Locations

👨‍🌾 Central Oregon’s OSU Master Gardener program now accepting applications

📰⚠️Giving Plate needs volunteers to make Christmas memorable for hundreds of local kids

 Got some news or know of news for our Community News Segment - share it with C.O. Local Buzz!

📲Sponsors & Partners

🐶Pet of the Week

🐶Meet Boomer! - SDH

😁 MEME of the Day

🌆 On going Events Fun N Games in Central Oregon has LAUNCHED 🚀

What was located on the site of Sunriver, Oregon, before it became a resort community in the 1960s?

A) A Native American trading post
B) A gold mining settlement
C) A World War II military training facility
D) A logging camp

👉Find The Answers in Friday’s Newsletter👉

Good Morning!

 BEND

SANTIAM PASS WEATHER

GOVERNMENT CAMP WEATHER

Events Sponsored By

Enjoy Bend Life Real Estate

What’s Up Central Oregon 

Hat Bar!

December 12th 5pm - 7pm

Click Boutique

341 N Main St Prineville, OR

Join us for a fun-filled evening of hat-making and holiday cheer! Limited spots available, so be sure to call or text 541-815-4379 to secure your spot. Feel free to call for details or inquiries.

December 15th

Join us for the 3rd Annual Central Oregon Bazaar held at Iconic Dance. Free admission, visits with Santa (between 11-2), fantastic local businesses and vendors, and some great last minute gift options.

*Enter off of Quimby  

December 12th 6pm - 9pm

Silvertone Devils @ The Wildwood

The Wildwood is in the space of the old Brown Owl in the box factory - great food and cocktails and a great spot for our last show of 2024 - music is free and the food is delicious and reasonably priced- we’ll be leaning acoustic w the full band - two sets between 6 and 9pm. It’s been a minute since our last band set and we’re excited to slip this show in- rally your pals and join us!

Coming up - Save the Date

Snowshoe with a ranger in the Ochoco National Forest

Embrace the beauty of winter and explore the Ochoco National Forest on snowshoes! Join us on Saturday, December 21, at 11:00 a.m. at Walton Lake Recreation Area for Snowshoe with a Ranger, a family-friendly event designed to connect you with nature and the expertise of our Forest specialists.

Participants will enjoy a guided snowshoe hike through the serene, snow-draped forest. Along the way, Forest specialists will share insights about winter wildlife, forest ecology, and more. It’s a chance to ask questions, learn, and take in the breathtaking scenery.

After the snowshoe adventure, warm up by a crackling fire with complimentary hot beverages. Whether you’re an experienced outdoor enthusiast or trying snowshoeing for the first time, this event is a great way to celebrate the season and the wonders of the Ochoco National Forest.

What to Bring:

• Snowshoes (A limited number of snowshoes will be available to borrow—please call ahead to reserve.)

• Warm clothing and sturdy winter boots.

• Water and snacks to stay comfortable during the hike.

Details:

• Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024

• Time: 11:00 a.m.

• Location: Walton Lake Recreation Area (directions can be found on the Forest website)

Celebrate Winter in the Ochocos

Bundle up, grab your snowshoes, and join us for an unforgettable day in the great outdoors. We can’t wait to see you on the trail!

For more information, contact the Ochoco National Forest at (541) 416-6500 or visit our website at www.fs.usda.gov/ochoco.

Got an upcoming event you want us to FEATURE?

Click here to let us know about your upcoming Event!

Bend’s biggest stage is gone: How 'The Nutcracker', others are adapting

Brooke Snavely

Central Oregon holiday productions such as "The Nutcracker" go on. But now they are doing so in much smaller venues.

In July, the Bend High School Auditorium was torn down due to structural deficiencies. It was the largest auditorium in Bend. That set off a mad scramble to find suitable space for planned performances.

For the first time in its 38 year history, the Central Oregon School of Ballet’s annual performance of "The Nutcracker" is taking place at Mountain View High School.

"Losing Bend high was quite a blow. That auditorium was 1,400 seats. Every other auditorium in town is 600. That meant to serve the same number of people we had to double our weekends," said Josh Deininger, Central Oregon School of Ballet artistic director.

It also doubles the ballet school’s expenses and doubles the load on the cast and crew, which is a considerable sacrifice to make over two weekends during the holidays.

"Mountain View, they were gracious enough to fit us in with their schedule and all the events they have going on. We are very appreciative to all the faculty and staff and the auditorium manager they have here that made it possible," Deininger said.

At Caldera High School, where a student group is practicing, I met Anne Birky who coordinates auditorium use across the school district.

"November, December, January can be very busy around all of the holidays. June is very busy around the end of school. People want to have performances. It does vary but we could have use in our auditoriums every weekend," Birky said.

Students in drama and music classes have first priority. The public, performing arts organizations and non-profit groups can request to use these spaces, paying hourly rates.

"We consistently have a revenue stream of $250,000. We give back 25% to the schools. Seventy-five percent of the rental fees will pay for staffing and utilities," Birky said. 

Requests to use auditorium spaces are accepted up to six months in advance. 

"Different theater. Six hundred seat house. It makes it a more intimate show," Deininger said of this year's Nutcracker performances, which have mostly been sold out.

National Medal of Honor Highway bill, spearheaded by Bend veteran, passes Congress

After years of dedication, spearheaded by a Bend veteran, America's longest continuous highway is one signature away from officially honoring recipients of the Medal of Honor.

The U.S. House passed the bill to designate U.S. Highway 20 the Medal of Honor Highway. The bill was passed by the Senate last year and now heads to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Highway 20 is the longest continuous highway in the U.S. at 3,365 miles, from Newport, Oregon to Boston, Massachusetts. Each state that the highway travels through has already designated it their state Medal of Honor highways.

The Bend Heroes Foundation and its chairman, retired Army Lt. Col. Dick Tobiason, have been pushing for six years for formal recognition of Highway 20 as the “National Medal of Honor Highway.”

The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor, presented by the president in Congress’ name. U.S. service members who distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” can receive the medal.

A total of 3,519 service members have received the medal.

Powell Butte drug and alcohol rehab facility scrapped after community pushback

An effort to put a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Powell Butte has failed after the company behind it backed out. It comes after strong opposition from the community.

Sunshine Behavioral Health withdrew its application for the substance use disorder treatment recently. It was going to buy a building from the local Catholic Diocese and turn it into the rehabilitation center.

Sunshine Chief Operating Officer Brandon Turner told Central Oregon Daily in October that the property was “peaceful” and “a place where people can come and begin reflecting and thinking about how they are going to continue their lives in recovery.” Sunshine says this model has worked in other places.

Crook County approved a modification of conditional use relating to a land use permit in September to fit the center’s needs.

The community came out in droves to oppose the plan.

The public hearing on the appeal scheduled for Wednesday morning was canceled now that the plan has been scrapped.

SnoPlanks’ First Student-Led Snowboards Hit Market

A year after being donated to OSU-Cascades by its founders, SnoPlanks, now a student-led company, has launched its 2025 snowboard line, featuring the “Asym Twin” and “Asym Fish.” The boards debuted at Portland’s Snowvana show and are available online and locally at Between Evergreens in Bend.

Twenty-seven students across multiple disciplines run SnoPlanks, gaining hands-on experience in business operations, product design, and marketing. CEO Caitlin Colgin, a senior outdoor products major, highlighted the opportunity to develop leadership and technical skills.

Under the guidance of the SnoPlanks Academy and OSU faculty, students have managed all aspects of the business, from hiring to manufacturing and sales. The company operates as a wholly owned OSU subsidiary and aligns with Cascades Edge, a career prep program.

Albertsons sues Kroger as $24.6 billion grocery merger collapses

Albertsons is giving up on its merger with Kroger and it is suing the grocery chain, saying it didn't do enough to secure regulatory approval for the $24.6 billion agreement.

The move came the day after two judges halted the merger in separate court cases. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued a preliminary injunction blocking the merger Tuesday after holding a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon. An hour later, Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle issued a permanent injunction barring the merger in Washington after concluding it would lessen competition in the state and violate consumer-protection laws.

Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. The companies said a merger would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon.

Under the merger agreement, Kroger and Albertsons — who compete in 22 states — agreed to sell 579 stores in places where their locations overlap to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based supplier to independent supermarkets that also owns the Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly store brands.

But the Federal Trade Commission sued to block the merger earlier this year, saying it would raise prices and lower workers' wages by eliminating competition. It also said the divestiture plan was inadequate and that C&S was ill-equipped to take on so many stores.

On Wednesday, Albertsons said that Kroger failed to exercise “best efforts” and to take “any and all actions” to secure regulatory approval of the companies’ agreed merger transaction.

Albertsons said Kroger refused to divest the assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignored regulators' feedback and rejected stronger divestiture buyers.

Kroger willfully breached the Merger Agreement in several key ways, including by repeatedly refusing to divest assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignoring regulators’ feedback, rejecting stronger divestiture buyers and failing to cooperate with Albertsons.

“Kroger’s self-serving conduct, taken at the expense of Albertsons and the agreed transaction, has harmed Albertsons’ shareholders, associates and consumers,” said Tom Moriarty, Albertsons’ general counsel, in a statement.

Kroger said that it disagrees with Albertsons “in the strongest possible terms.” It said early Wednesday that Albertsons was responsible for “repeated intentional material breaches and interference throughout the merger process.”

Shares of Albertsons rose more than 2% at the opening bell, while Kroger's stock rose slightly.

City of Bend Events

Gun Recovered Following Attempted Armed Carjacking in Bend

Bend, OR — A 24-year-old Klamath Falls man, Matthew Carlton Drake, remains in the Deschutes County Jail following an attempted armed carjacking in Bend last week. The incident, which unfolded on December 5, led to an extensive investigation by Bend Police that concluded with the recovery of the firearm used in the crime.

The Incident

The attempted carjacking occurred at approximately 7:23 p.m. in the 300 block of SE Reed Market Road. A 48-year-old Bend resident reported that an unknown man, later identified as Drake, approached her, pointed a gun at her, and demanded she exit her vehicle. The victim fled, taking her keys but leaving her phone behind. She managed to contact 911 using a family member’s phone while observing the suspect still inside her vehicle.

When officers arrived, the victim’s car was in its original location, but her phone was missing. The victim provided a detailed description of the suspect, prompting an immediate search involving drone operators, K9 Billy and his handler, and support from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police.

Arrest and Investigation

During the search, officers found the victim’s phone abandoned in a nearby McDonald’s parking lot. Roughly an hour later, police located Drake in the AutoZone Auto Parts parking lot on South Highway 97. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Deschutes County Jail.

Drake, who had recently traveled to Bend from Klamath Falls, faced multiple charges, including first-degree robbery, attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle, menacing, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon, theft, and pointing a firearm at another. At the time of his arrest, the firearm used in the crime had not been located.

Gun Recovery and Additional Charges

Over the weekend, Bend Police continued their investigation, including a review of surveillance footage. Video evidence revealed that Drake had attempted to enter a home on SW Hayes Avenue during the incident. Officers conducted a thorough canvass of the area and discovered the handgun on the property Sunday.

As a result, Drake now faces additional charges of first-degree attempted burglary and felon in possession of a firearm. He remains in custody at the Deschutes County Jail.

Community Response

Bend Police expressed their gratitude to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police for their assistance in the case. The swift collaboration among law enforcement agencies played a critical role in ensuring public safety and recovering the weapon.

This incident underscores the importance of vigilance and cooperation in maintaining community security. Law enforcement officials continue to urge residents to report suspicious activity and provide information that could aid ongoing investigations.

Drake’s case remains under investigation, and further updates are expected as the legal process unfolds.

Central Oregon’s OSU Master Gardener program now accepting applications

Applications for the OSU Master Gardener™ Program in Central Oregon are now available. The program targets individuals interested in becoming a trained volunteer who wants to learn and share research-based gardening information.

The program will be a hybrid training, with both online and in-person learning. Once you apply and have been accepted, you will be considered an OSU Master Gardener™ trainee.

As a volunteer in training, you will participate in weekly hybrid (both in person and online combined) training conducted by qualified OSU Extension faculty, specialists, and certified OSU Master Gardeners™. Training days occur once a week for eight weeks.

Please consider these dates when applying, keeping in mind that you are required to attend a minimum of seven classes in person. For 2025, these are the training dates:

Dates: In person classes will be held on Wednesdays, January 29 – April 2, with no class on Feb 26th and Mar 26th.

Time: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm

Location: OSU/Deschutes County Extension Service, 3800 SW Airport Way, Bldg. 3, Redmond, OR

Cost will be $280.00 and includes tuition and supplies. Partial scholarships are available. 

Applications are due by January 10, 2025.

More information at: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/central/how-join

Giving Plate needs volunteers to make Christmas memorable for hundreds of local kids

The Giving Plate is seeking more than 400 volunteers to support its 2024 Jingle Christmas events, helping create a memorable experience for hundreds of low-to-moderate-income children in Central Oregon.

Volunteers can assist with various roles, from gift wrapping and organizing to engaging with children as beloved characters, ensuring the success of the Jingle Store and the Santa’s Plate fundraiser.

To sign up as a volunteer, visit: Jingle Volunteer Sign-Up Form

Here are the full details from The Giving Plate on how you can help:

(BEND, OR) – This holiday season, join The Giving Plate in creating an unforgettable experience for families in need at our 2024 Jingle Christmas events. We’re calling on the community to help us fill over 400 volunteer shifts from December 15th–December 23rd, and there’s a role for everyone!

If you enjoy building, decorating, organizing, gift wrapping, fluffing snow, or driving golf carts, we need your help! Love engaging with kids or bringing joy as a character or mascot? We have something for you! We’re especially looking for Disney enthusiasts, Star Wars fans, and those who love spreading holiday cheer.

The Jingle Store, held at The Riverhouse Convention Center, is a free event for 945 low-to-moderate-income children aged 1–17 in Central Oregon. These children receive $10 in Jingle Bucks to shop for gifts, meet Santa and other beloved characters, and experience the magic of a Gingerbread Lane Candy Store and Jingle Toy Store. With all 945 free spots for kids filled this year within just four hours, Jingle Store is set to bring holiday magic to those who need it most!

In addition to Jingle Store, our Santa’s Plate fundraiser helps support some of the costs of putting this event on. For just $30, children from the community enjoy a similar experience to Jingle Store, but rather than shop in Jingle Toy Store, they get to decorate a keepsake cookie plate for Santa. This fundraiser is sure to become a cherished holiday tradition for many families, and only 70 spots remain.

We can’t do it without you! Volunteers are the heart of Jingle, and all The Giving Plate does for our neighbors, and with over 400 roles to fill, your time and talents can help make the magic happen. Whether you enjoy working directly with children or prefer behind-the-scenes tasks, your contribution is invaluable.

To sign up as a volunteer, please visit: Jingle Volunteer Sign-Up Form

Help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with businesses, groups, families, and friends. It takes tremendous funding, toys, and peoplepower to bring Jingle to life, and we couldn’t do it without amazing volunteers like you.

For questions about volunteering, contact: Sasha Howes, Volunteer Manager at [email protected]

The Giving Plate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food pantry located in Bend, Oregon. Through four hunger relief programs, we serve food-insecure Central Oregonians, with over 60% of those we help being under the age of 18. We are committed not only to fighting hunger but also to feeding hope. Learn more at www.thegivingplate.org. To learn more about Jingle Christmas events, go to www.thegivingplate.org/jingle.

Meet Boomer!

 Looking for your new best friend? Meet Boomer, a sweet and handsome boy who's been waiting for his forever family since October. Here's what makes this lovable pitty so special:

✔️ Age: 1-year-old and a certified very good boy
✔️ Awards: Voted "Prettiest Eyes" 🏆
✔️ Personality: Super social, affectionate, and adores other dogs
✔️ Skills: The ultimate well-mannered office buddy 💻
✔️ Social Star: Passed the vibe check at El Sancho and Thump Coffee with flying colors 👍

We’re totally smitten with Boomer, and we think you will be too! 🥰

If you’d like to meet Boomer, please submit an adoption application at streetdoghero.org.

Urgent: Boomer also needs a foster by Saturday (12/14), as his current foster is heading out of town for the holidays. If you can foster him, please email [email protected].

📲 Please share this post to help Boomer find his perfect match!

 😎Just Sayin

Fun N Games in Central Oregon

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